If the truth and knowledge of it do not move him to follow it, he is warned of the consequences of denial and disobedience and the punishment they entail, for the soul naturally fears punishment. Every living being flees what harms it, unlike what benefits it. Some people, however, follow their desires, choosing what is inferior over what is superior. Likewise, some deny the punishment of which they are warned or deliberately disregard it so that they can do what they desire. For if a person believed in it and kept it in mind, he would not urge his soul to pursue its desires. There must therefore be some heedlessness and ignorance for him to follow them. Hence everyone who disobeys Allah is ignorant, as has been explained at length elsewhere.

The purpose here is to draw attention to the fact that His words,

“Read in the name of your Lord,”

indicate that the Lord is already known to those addressed and that the innate disposition acknowledges Him. This is also indicated by His words,

“And when your Lord brought forth from the children of Adam, from their loins, their descendants and made them testify concerning themselves,”

and the rest of the verse, which has been discussed at length elsewhere. Likewise, the messengers’ words,

“Can there be any doubt about Allah?”

express a negation: there is no doubt about Allah. This is a question calling for acknowledgment: it calls upon the nations to affirm what they already acknowledge—that there is no doubt about Allah. Thus, it is a question calling for acknowledgment.